Weighing apparatus



llg 14, 1951 P. B. Rl'cHARDsoN 2,564,544

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet l Allg' 14, 1951 P. B'. RICHARDSON 2,564,544

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ug 14, 1951 P. a. mcHARDsoN 2,564,544

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June '7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 14, 1951 P. B. RICHARDSON 2,564,544

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Elm/ways Allg- 14, 1951 P. a. RICHARDSON 2,564,544

WIGHING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 7, 1946 Aug. 14, 1951 P. B. RICHARDSON WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Aug. 14, 1951 P. B. RICHARDsoN 2,564,544

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June 7, 194e 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 14, 1951 P, B. RxcHARDsN 2,564,544

WEIGHING APPARATUS Filed June '7, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 MAK/gam Patented Aug. 14, 19521l WEIGHIN G APPARATUS Philip B. Richardson, Montclair,

Richardson Scale Company,

N. J., assigner to Clifton, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey Application June "i, 1946, Serial No. 675,031

`1 Claim.

The present invention relates to weighing machines, and more particularly to those of the automatic type in which the weighing and discharging operations are performed automatically under control of the weighing mechanism.

In the art of handling fluent materials, many f them can be fed into a weigh unit and the column of material falling at the moment of cut olf can be compensated for by a simple means which cuts off the feed before all of the materia] to make up a weighment has been actually received by the weigh unit, the falling column of material, when received by the weigh unit making up the desired predetermined Weighing. However, many materials cannot be weighed in such a simple manner. Pulverized materials such, for example, as flour, often become aerated and tend to flush while feeding, making it impossible te cut off the feed stream at the precisely correct moment to insure accuracy, with the result that the flushing material will cause an excess feed to the Weigh unit, and if the entire amount of material received by the weigh unit were discharged, it would be in excess of the desired predetermined quantity. Other materials, such as pulverized materials and those of a sticky nature tend to cling toa weigh unit so that the entire quantity thereof weighed cannot be discharged readily, and when part of the weighed charge remains in the weigh unit while the charge is discharged, the discharged portion is less than the predetermined desired quantity.

The primary object ofthe present invention is to provide novel and improved weighing means which can be fed with material which may be in a quantity without regard to accuracy, and

which may represent a predetermined quantity` either with or without an excess thereof, and which can discharge exactly a predetermined quantity of the material, regardless of whether the material being weighed clings to or remains in the weigh unit during the discharging operation by maintaining a reservoir of excess material in the weigh unit at all times, and weighing out only a predetermined amount of the material during or as part of each discharging operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel structure and arrangement for accomplishing the foregoing which can be used with the various known types of weighing machines or scales. Y

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out more particularly in the claim at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a weighing machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the Weighing machine shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the right thereof.

Figure 2a is a detail section of the control Valve.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is an elevation, with parts broker. away, of the structure shown in Fig. 3 as viewed from the left.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3 as viewed from the right, and including in addition, a bag holder.

Figure 8 is a detail view, of part of the hopper door for releasing it.

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 9*9 in Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a detail view in elevation of part of the means for lifting the weigh weight from the scale beam.

Figure 11 is a top plan of Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is a section on the line I2-l2 of Fig. 11, looking toward the left.

Figure 13 is a detail elevation of the means for actuating the weigh weight lifting means.

Figures 14 and 15 are detail views in top plan and elevation respectively, of the bag holder.

Figures 16 and 17 are detail views of the weigh beam controlled switches.

Figure 18 is a detail view in elevation of the travelling poise.

Figure 19 is a detail section on the line IS-IS in Fig. 18.

Figure 20 is a top plan view of one end of the beam for the travelling poise.

Figure 21 is an electrical diagram, showing the operating and controlling circuits.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the present invention applied to a weighing machine having a travelling belt for feeding the material to a weigh unit in the form of a hopper, and in which the weighments are discharged mainly by opening a hopper discharge on an enlarged scale, toggle and the means 'door and the remainder of the weighments are discharged by an auger, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its use to a weighing machine of that type but that the weigh unit may be of other types, and other means may be employed for feeding the material to the weigh unit and for discharging the material therefrom.

As shown in the present instance, the weighing machine to which the invention is shown applied comprises an outer casing 2l having a chute 22 connected to the lower end of a bin 2,3 to receive therefrom the material to be weighed, and the lower end of the casing is provided with a filling spout 24 to receive the weighed material l as it is discharged. In applying the invention to the bagging of material, as shown in the present instance, the lower end of the spout 24 is adapted to enter the mouth of a bag which may be placed manually thereover, and is provided with a suitable holder for securing the bag in filling ,position on the pilt 'Bag holders of different kindsmay be used, but it is preferablel .to employ a .bag holder substantially as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, comprising a pair of segmental grippers '43,6 land 3i adapted to clamp a 'bag kmouth against opposite sides of the filling spout, these `grippersbeing carried by 4arms 32311,(1133 Which are pivotally mounted on a relatively xed support '34 vby a ypair of pivot pins 35 and 36 the axes .ofwhich diverge upwardly so that they .will swing away from the spout in an outwardly 'and upwardly 'inclined path, thus providing ample spacebneath them for theQoperators hands in placing the bags on the spout, and the grippers will swing inwardly and .downwardly toward the spout to clamp the .bagr :nouth and thereby support the bag "in filling position. 'The farms" are actuated .to 4swing the grippers toward and from the spout by extensions 32 and 33 of .the arms, ,and a toggle 31 y.connecting these extensions, straighteninglof ,the toggle forcing 'the grippers inwardly ,intov bag-clamping position and iiexing ,of the toggle retractingx the vgrippers to release .a lled'bag and to permit an emptybag to be placed on the spout. Thetoggle is preierablystraightened and flexed by pneumatic means such as a4 cylinder 38 having a piston 39 reciprorable therein .and having its .rod 40 ,connected .to the middle :of the toggleby `a clevis El. yThe piston 39'is'operated by-compressed air admitted .to .one .or the other end `of the cylinder through .pipes 42 `Aand 443.

A packer is preferably employed for settling the material in the bags, a packer substantially as disclosed in my prior Patent NO- A2,37 6,810 granted May '22', 19,45, beinggshpwn the present .instance for this purpose, and to which :patent reference is made for a detailed disclosure thereof. lFor the purposes of the present invention, it is deemed y$11.1i9111t 'i9 describe the oalier briefly as comprising a cradle 45 which is mounted to rock on Va horizontal pivot it land to swing on a vertical pivot il on a carriage 11B, the latter being mounted to reciprocate horizontally =to bring the cradle beneath a bagl suspended 'on' :the :filling spout and having means for rocking the `cradle to facilitate Aits .entry beneathA `the .empty bag and its withdrawal frombe'neath va filled bag, land also having means for swinging the cradle .about its vertical pivot 41 to settle the material in albag resting on .the cradle. The carriage is preferably reciprocated Aby a piston 5.0 operating yin a cylinder i, as in my prior patentaforesaid.

In order to'coordinate", the operations ,of the packer and bag holder, the pipe 42 connected to the cylinder 38 for admitting compressed air thereto to close the bag holder is connected to the end of the cylinder 5l to which compressed( air is admitted to extend the packer into a position beneath the filling spout to cooperate with a bag on the filling spout, and the pipe d3 connected to the end of the cylinder 38 for admitting compressed air thereto Ato open vthe bag holder and thus VVrelease afilled bag LYfrom y-the fill-ing spout is connected to the end of the cylinder 5i to which compressed air is admitted to retract the ,packer from beneath a filled bag suspended from the filling spout. Accordingly, the packer will be withdrawn from beneath a filled bag and the filled .bag will be released from the filling spout substantially concurrently, thereby permitting the filled bag to drop from the filling spout, preferably onto a travelling belt 52, and the latter may convey the filled bag, while standing upright thereon, to a sewing machine 53 of any suitable 01 Well :knew type for Sewing and mus kclosing the mouth of the Yfilled bag. any suitable valve may b :employed ffr @Chinon-ing the ,Supply and exhaust of compressed air to and from the cylinders 38 .and fifthe valve shown conventionally in the' presentilnstance being substantially like that .disclosed in my aforesaid prior patent, it having a compressed .air inlet 5g and a pipe 56 leading from the valve to the ends of the cylinders Y38l .and 5.! to which compressed air is supplied to clse .the bag holder and extend or advance .the'packer respectively, and having an ,outlet 25J andfap-pe 5B1-leading to the valve from the ends of the'cylfinders from which air is 4exhausted during lthe ,closing Eofthe tb ag holder and the advance of the pacler, `the valve having a rotatable vali/2 member 59 'which is preferably actuated -by a :pedal 6,0 and iS. Iprov-161691 with ports. whereby depressing of the pedal will reverse the -compressed air inlet :and exhaust relatively to theY pipes 56 and ,5.8 and thereby @ausentes-.ined the bag holder and retraction of `the packer.

Material supplied :to the casing 2i which :contains the weigh unit .is received by afeeder which may -be `of any 'suitable -type,'it being .shown in the present instance .as of the zend-less travelling belt type 6 5 which is disposed horizontally, or substantially so, and passes :around head -and tail pulleys v$56 :and 61 irespectively, these pulleys lbeing mounted on shafts 6.8 and r69 suitably ournaled within the casing, the -tail pulley 6Fl being located substantially beneath the vchute :22 through kwhich the material is `supplitd to the upper -stretchbf the tail end of vthe belt, and the latter travellingV in a direction to convey the materialen its upper stretch to the -head `end of "the belt. The belt is driven from the reduction gear-head of an elecf tric motor FID through a sprocket U on its shaft which drives za chain 12, fthe latter passing raround aV sprocket wheel i3 rwhich :is fixed .to the head pulley shaft 68. The motor 't0 ,operates periodically, under Y.the con-trol of kmeans'hereinafter described, '.to advance fthe belt :intermittently to supply the 'charges ito be iweighed to the weigh unit. 1

The weigh uint may be :of different types, that shown comprising a hopper suspended by bars 8i from a `,cross .mem-ber 182 and the latter is .suspended by bolts 8g3 from :a cross-bar 84,

kand -bar is .suspended lfrom knife-edges in zone rend of a weigh beam T8.6. As shownin Fig. 4, the weigh beam comprises a rectangular lpore tion which carries the knife-edges 85 and also knife-edges A,871 `the :bearings of which are sun- 5 ported in xed position by brackets 88 mounted on a transverse member 89 which is suitably supported in iixed position in the upper portion of the casing 2|. The weigh beam is fulcrumed by the knife-edges 81, and the portion of the beam at the side of these knife-edges opposite to the knife-edges 85 suspending the weigh hopper is formed as a narrowed extension 86a of suitable length to provide the desired leverage, and has a rod 90 suspended therefrom by a knife-edge 9|, this rod carrying the weights to counterbalance the weigh hopper and material therein in a manner hereinafter described. The bottom of the hopper has an opening which is provided with a discharge door for the gravity discharge of weighed material, this door being provided with any suitable or well known means for locking it in closed position during the weighing operation and for unlocking it to permit it to open and discharge material, the door being shown in the present instance as pivoted at its upper end to the opposite sides of the hopper by a shaft |0| and pivotally connected toward its lower end, and at its opposite sides, as at |02 and |03 respectively, to a pair of toggles, one of which comprises a link 04 connected at its lower end to the pivot |02 and pivotally connected at its upper end, at |05, to a cooperating toggle link |06, the latter being xed to a shaft |01 which extends across and is journaled in the opposite sides of the hopper. The centers of the pivots |02, |05 and |01 are so located thatwhile the hopper door is closed, these pivots will be slightly past a dead center, as shown in Fig. 6, whereby the hopper door will be locked in closed position; and when the upper ends of the links |04 and |06 are swung toward the right in said figure, the toggle will be broken and the door will be free to swing open under the weight of material in the hopper. A similar toggle is provided at the opposite side of the hopper to operate in unison with the toggle just described, this other toggle, as shown in Fig. 7, comprising a link ||0 the lower end of which is connected to the pivot |03 on that side of the hopper door, and the i upper end of which is pivotally connected at to a cooperating toggle member 2, the latter being fixed to transverse shaft |01, the centers of the pivots |03, |01 and being slightly past dead center while the hopper door is closed, and

being unlocked to permit opening of the door by swing of the upper ends of the links ||0 and ||2 toward the left in Figs. 7 and 8. Normally, the toggle link ||2, and also the toggle link |06 connected thereto by the shaft |01, are held against premature unlocking movement by a lever ||5 which is xed to a shaft ||6 suitably journaled in the adjacent side of the outer casing 2| and carries a roller ||1 to operate in a cam slot ||8 in the link ||2, this cam slot having an approximately radial lower portion in which the roller rests while the toggle is locked and the lever ||5 is in its lower position, thus preventing unlocking of the toggle, and having a substantially concentric upper portion in which the roller ||1 may ride after the lever 5 has` been lifted, thus permitting the link I |2 to swing to unlock the toggle. The link ||2 is swung to unlock the toggle by pressing of a screw or other projection ||9 on the lever ||5 against an abutment |20 on said link when said lever is swung upwardly, thereby swinging the pivot I over the dead center and unlocking the respective toggle, and as the link |06 of the toggle on the other side of the hopper is connected to the toggle link ||2, the lever 5 controls the locking and releasing of both toggles. After the hopper door has been opened and discharged material from the hopper and the door thus relieved of the weight of material thereon, it is closed automatically by suitable counterbalancing means which comprises, in the present instance, a lever |25 pivoted at |26 to a side of the hopper and having a oounterweight |21 adjustably xed thereon. The upper portion of this lever extends through a space provided between the link |04 and a guide strip |28 xed to a side thereof and in a position to cooperate at its upper edge with a roller |29 carried by the link |04. The upper roller-engaging portion of the lever |25 is curved upwardly so that while the toggle link |04 swings into unlocked position or toward the right in Fig. 6, the roller |29 will ride on this curved portion and rock the lever in a direction to lift its counterweight, and the latter will be held in raised position under the weight of the discharging material on the hopper door, but after the material has been discharged from the hopper and the hopper door is relieved of the weight of such material, the weight of the counterbalance |21 is sufficient to swing the hopper door to closed position and to restore its controlling toggles to locked condition, thus preparing the hopper for the next charge of material to be supplied thereto from the feeder.

The unlocking or tripping of the hopper door toggle is preferably controlled automatically from the bag holder whereby the hopper door will be unlocked and will open to discharge material from the Weigh hopper concurrently with the closing of the bag holder to secure a bag on the lling spout. In the present instance such control means comprises a post |30 which is fixed rigidly to the clevis 4| connecting the inner ends of the toggle members 31 and carrying a roller |3| which is engageable with the under side of a lever |32, the latter being fixed to a shaft |33 suitably journaled in a relatively fixed support |34 attached to the filling spout 24, this shaft having an arm |35 xed thereon and which rests against a stop |36 while the bag holder is open and the hopper door locked. A cable |31 is attached to the arm |35 and passes around a guide sheave |38 supported' at a side of the lling chute by a bracket |39, and the cable extends upwardly and is connected by a yoke |40 to one end of a lever |4|, this lever being pivoted at |42 to the adjacent outer side of the casing 2| and attached at its other end to a tension spring |43, which acts to return this lever t0 and to retain it in its normal position. Due to the mounting of the bag holder arms 32 and 33 on pivots 35 and 36 which are oppositely inclined so that they diverge upwardly, the toggle 31 connecting these arms will move upwardly while the arms 32 and 33 swing inwardly to clamp a bag and such upward movement of this toggle carries the roller |3| upwardly from the full line to the dotted line position as indicated in Fig. '1. Such upward movement of this roller causes it to engage and swing the lever 32 upwardly, thereby swinging the arm |32 from the full line to the dotted line position indicated in said ligure. thereby pulling the cable |31 downwardly. Such movement of the cable tilts the lever |4| downwardly and, through a toggle |45 which is normally straightened or locked, tilts downwardly a lever |46 which is clamped or otherwise fixed to the shaft ||6 at the exterior of the casing 2|, thereby swinging the lever ||5 upwardly and thus unlocking the hopper door toggles. As the toggle i'fappiiachesihe limitiert-its descent; it engages an abutment :|41 4-xed5ina suitable position von .the exteriorrofpthe outer,.casing;-2|, whichlexes or' :breaks :this .,toggle, thus permitting :the :lleizer UH .nndcable 1l-31 l:to continue :their movements without .interference iby :the .lever 5| |5. ":The descentlofzthe lever1|f06 brings'an abutment |48 carried :.:tlfiereby into :engagement before :the breaking ofthe togglewth anactuatingfarmlg of-zaizlimit; switch |50- comprising Aswitch members tand 1 |5019 and to operatersaidswitch fasfwill behereinafter.-described. "LWhile. the `lever I 46is in -its normal raised position, the abutment 48 thereon rests` against :asstop' 5 I l-xedf toltfhe` exterior ortho outer casing 2|. f l

xAccordingi-tofthe -Vpresent invention, the hopper or'fweighl untvisafed with a quantityl of material withoutregard'toaccuracy andA which-may represent'a'predetermineddesiredvv quantity.- either with orfwithout anexcessthereothetotal amount of materialin-f the hopper or weight unit is balanced, theimaiorf portion of the desiredouantity isl dischargedV immediately upon Y'completionof each weighing oper-ation, .and the remainder ofthedesired quantity isedischarged under control/ofthe weighing f mechanism vuntil* the total larnolgmt*dis charged equals uthe desired quantity. lona-ppl'ying the"invention1-to a weighing machineof ythatype hereinbeforedescribed; the counterbalance rddl 90 carries a tare weight |55 which is acljustedto balance'theweigh hopper; the mechanism carried by-it, andi-'a reservoir ofrnaterial in the hopper over and Y above the `desired -weighrnent The counterbalance'rod Galso has a collar |56 fixed thereon and onv which a weigh weight |51 isarranged to'rest, this Yweight*being-movable vertically-'on the-rodt so that it `may-be lifted from the collar |56 torremove its counterbalancing'in- -uence on thescale beam-86.

' The weigh .weight |51 is` lifted above the' collar |56 at` the endof each feeding operatienbya lever #60 which is clamped lor otherwise fixed t0 a shaft |61. journaled in bearings |62 and |63 suitably supported in the casing 2|, the lever |-60 having a fork |64 at one endv'which straddles the rod 90 and carries screws orvpins |65 which'oloeratein vertical slot |66 formed 'in lugs |.61xed to the tonof the; weight |51. The other end yof the 'lever |l601has -a spr-ing |68. attached theretoY and to a fixed part of the casing andacts to llift the weigh weight from the .collar |56. Asecond vlever |69 is l-elarnped orotherwise fixed to the shaft 6| and connected at one endto the lever; |60 to rock in unison therewith, this second leverbeing provided atfits en d'vcorresponding .to the fork;y |66 with a r,ol1er-I|-0 which, when thelever |66 is rocked into the'fullline position shown. in Fig. 113, engages beneathi'the-dog |1|;on.a trigger |12,.thus'ho1d ing this end of this lever in lowered position. The trigger is pivotedat |13 von a bracket|1suitably snpportedinxed :position in the casing,.andv has :et-weighted arm |15V thereon which acts to swing the triggerto bring the dog |12 thereonabove `:the roller |10. `'lille trigger is retracted vto release the roller |10fbyl afsolenoid |16 which issuitablyiixedwithin-1 the'casing, the solenoid havingan arma.- tiire-f|11 which :is connected bya rod IJtoa pin |1 9 on the 'weighted arm |15,1a slot |80 being providedin therod to receive the pin .and thus permit latchingV of the dog: |1| :overzthe rolleru|10 freely of thegsolenoid. AEnergi'zing of thev sole.- noid,however, while the trigger is in holding .engagement with the roller |140, as-shownlbythe full lines :inf Fig. 13, will rockthetrigger into; the dotted rlinelrposition shown finthisreurerfend' Weigh-'Weight Onto the Collar L56, andloweriris therebyretractthedog il 1| from above the relier' |10 and-permit :thisrlever-to rock into theY dotted line= positionfshown in F-ig. '13 under the actionoi thespringiI-BB. fAs--the'lever :|66 is connected-te thelever |69 throughvtheshaft 6 such-rocking movement-of the-lever |69 will lift the-'end oft-the lever :i-carrying the vfork |64, thereby lift-ing thewveigh-weightf'frem the collar f |56 and-thus remoVingthe-inuence of theweighA weightirom the-weigh-beam.

' The-weigh Aweightv is flowered against theaction ofthe-spring |68-tobring it to rest onv the Vcollar |561by a rroller |85 V-which'is mounted-rotatably on=-thelever |69-toward1the end thereof opposite tothaewhiohearnes the relier 110 and the r9.1- ler =|85--rests-on a cam`|86 v'fixed to one endof shaftwhenthe lever l|66` is releasedfbythe trigger. VV-The ishaft |81 carrying said cani is mounted-rotatably in one end ofV a lever lwhicii is j-pivoted at H39 on a bracket |90 suitably supportediniiXed position inthe casing, the o her en dgof this'leveribeing provided v.with a coun erweight l9| which actsto'lifttheshaft lrarryme the-Cam at .one end and also carrying. at .itsotber ende sprocket |92 Whichisxed tosaid .Shaft and Wherlloweres engages the feed bondades ehainiZ andtoibe driventherebm a stationary Supporti@ beinaprovded beneath `the ohainto insurenroper drivineengagement between. :it .and the sprocket |92- Accordinely, when the trigger |12 trirsjthefleverl ,upon energizing of the solenoid 1116, the Vroller |85 'drops onto therein |66, pverbalancing the cunterweight 9l and carrying Ythe Ysproeket |92 1061111160 engager ment with the'feffder .1.210. bedriventhereby. andthe. ,rotation thus'. imparted to the'sproket rgtatesthe oamleennected thereto, and the cam Onwhch the roller'i rides lftsthisroller andthe corresppndine ends of .the lei/ers |60 and |69, causing the lever |60 to lower ,the

the ro1ier-l10or1thelever |169 untilt iS laiche@ beneathand'jheld-bythe dog Hl 0f the trigger, ToA insure proper centering of the weigh weight L51 Onithe vcollar `156, these elements areprovided with complemental conical surfaces, as shown. Across member |951isY preferably securedtoand connects the levers |60 and'lg, and'this'cross-member carries a l'lug |96 .which'is engageablewi-th an operating arm |91 of a ,normally-pen interlock: switch |68 to allow this switch to close when said levers are rockedgin a direction 'toflower vthe weigh weight and to holdvthe lever A|6g0 -position by engagement of thetrigger, and nisvengageable with an operating arm-|99';of;a-normally closed interlock switch 200 -to 'lopen-'this switch Awhen said'levers are rocked in^--the opposite direction, as will be-apparentgfrorrr the `full and dot-ted lines in Fig-10, theswitch"|98-beingvopenedand the switch 200 allowed-toclose-whensaid levers are rocked inl the -opposite direction to lower theweigh weigh-t onto: the coll-ar |56.

lThe vvweigh-'beam -86 has an -auxiliary'v'beain 20 |"-=-bo1ted orbtherwiseiixed thereto to extend longitudinal-ly thereof` and to 'move therewith, and'thisauxiliary beam -isuprovided with a vtravel-- ling ipoisefZ-Z. vThe travel-ling -poise arrangement may-beimilar mits-construction to that shown and described in-my copending applicationf'Ser. No.fi'534,933,fledMay 10, 1944, `now PatentNo. 2,434,177, 19o-'which reference maybe made for theadetails of-its.eonstructionf--it being deemed suicientlfor thepurposes of the -present inven- -tionfv to ...illustrate and describe the construction of the travelling poise only in a general way. The travelling poise, however, cooperates in a novel manner with the other elements of the weighing machine, as will be hereinafter described. Briefly described, the travelling poise 202 is guided to travel along the auxiliary beam 20| by rollers 203 which ride on the top of the beam and a roller 204 which is engageable with the lower edge of the beam to steady and prevent tilting or displacement of the poise. The poise is advanced and retracted along the beam by a chain 205 which passes around a pair of sprockets 206 and 201 and is attached at its ends to the poise. The sprocket 201, which drives the chain, is fixed to a gear 209, and said sprocket and gear are mounted rotatably on a fixed shaft 208, said gear meshing with a gear 2|0 driven by a reversible electric motor 2| I. Operation of this motor in one direction drives the chain 205 to move the poise along the auxiliary beam from a vzero position to add t the counterbalance of the main beam 86, and operation of this motor in a reverse direction causes the poise to travel in the opposite direction and to return to its zero position. This motor may be of any well known type in which forward and reverse operation thereof are obtained by energizing forward and reverse coils respectively.

The major portion of the material fed from the head pulley end of the feed belt 65 is received by the main part of the weigh hopper, but a portion of such material enters and lls a compartment 2|5 (Fig. 5) which is supported in fixed position within the hopper as by bolting it to a cross-member 2|6 secured within the hopper. A feed tube 2|1 extends downwardly from the bottom of this compartment to the lower end of the hopper, and the lower edge of this tube lies in the same plane with the lower edges of the hopper against which the hopper door ts when said door is closed, so that when the hopper door is closed, it prevents leakage of material not only from the edges of the hopper but also past the lower edge of the tube 2|1, and the hopper door is provided with a discharge opening 2|8 of a size and shape which conform substantially to the interior bore of this tube. The tube 2 I 1 contains appropriate means for discharging material therefrom, such discharging means as shown in the present instance comprising an auger 2|0 which is connected. to a driving shaft 220, the latter extending upwardly through the hopper and being connected to the reduction gearhead 22| of an electric motor 222. Rotation of the auger in the appropriate direction by the motor 222 discharges material from the compartment through the hopper door after it has closed, and into the filling spout 24 to form a portion of the weighment discharged into the bag on the spout.

The different operations in each cycle are controlled by switches which are controlled by the movements of the weigh beam 86. Some of these switches are operated by a link 225 connected to said -beam and to a carrier 226 which is pivotally mounted at 226a on a stationary plate 229 secured in the casing and having a pair of mercury switches 221 and 228 mounted thereon in relatively reversed positions so that when the carrier is rocked in one direction about the pivot by rising of the counterweighted end of the weigh beam, the switch 221 will be closed and the switch 228 will be open, and when the counterweighted end of the weigh beam descends, the switch 221 will be open, and the Switch 223 @1056(1.,

An additional beam switch 230 is mounted on a stationary part of the casing and is connectedv by a link 23| to the weigh beam so that this switch will be closed while the counterweight end of the weigh beam is down and opened when said end of said beam rises.

Means is provided for indicating the accuracy of the weighings, such accuracy indicator comprising, in the present instance, an indicator 232 attached to the lower end of the rod which suspends the counterweights for the weigh beam so that this indicator lwill rise and descend with the up and down movements of the counterweighted end of the beam, and this indicator passes over a suitable indicator plate marked with suitable indicia, such as H and L indicating respectively high and low weighings, and an intermediate line indicating balance of the beam. This indicator and plate are preferably housed in a suitable casing 233 which may be supported from the filling spout in a xed position, and has a window therein through which the indicia on the indicator plate are visible.

The electric motors employed, except for the poise motor, may be of any suitable type, those shown in the present instance being of the polyphase ty-pe adapted to operate from a three-phase power system comprising the power lines L1, L2 and L3. The feed motor 10 is controlled by a switch 240 the terminals of which are connected to the power lines and to the terminals of this motor and are adapted to be bridged by contactors 24|, 242 and 243 carried by a bar 244, the contactors being normally held in disengaged relation with their respective pairs of contacts, as by a tension spring 245, and being engaged with their contacts by a solenoid 246 when ener-` gized, and the bar 244 of this switch carries a supplemental contacter 241 which is normally held in engagement with a pair of contacts 248 and 249 by the spring 245, and is disengaged' from said contacts when the solenoid 246 is energized, for a purpose hereinafter described. The discharge motor 222 is controlled by a switch 250 the contacts of which are connected to the power lines L1, L2 and L3 and to the terminals of this' motor and are adapted to be bridged lby cont-actors 25|, 252 and 253 carried by a bar 254, these contactors being normally held in disengaged relation with their respective pairs of contacts, as by a tension spring 255, and being engaged with said contacts by a solenoid 256 when energized, and thebar 254 of this switch carries a supplemental contacter 250A which is normally held in engagement with its pair of. contacts by the spring 255. The control circuits are preferably supplied with current at reduced voltage, as by a transformer 251 having its primary connected to two of the power lines and having its secondary connected to a main control switch 258 which, when closed, supplies current from the transformer to the main terminals 259 and 260 of the control circuits.

The control circuits, yas shown in the diagram, Fig. 2l, are connected as follows: A conductor 26| leads from the main terminal 259 to one terminal of a test switch 262, the other terminal of this switch being connected by a conductor 263 to one terminal of hopper door switch member |50a, the other terminal of this switch member being connected by a conductor 264 to one terminal of beam switch 230 the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor 265 to one terminal of normally closed contaotor 250A of. starter switch 250, the other terminal of saidlil? contactor, being, connectedto one. terminalb thev solenoid"v 22%,', the other terminali, of. this. solenoid'. being connectedby-'a-conductor 2.66'to the other maihlterininal 26.0.2 Another conductor ZETleads from th'e conductor 261 to atermihal of4 the hopper door switch member ISUZL, and' a conductor. 2.68. leads iromthe. other terminal of'this switch member. to one. terminator.' the trigger releasing solenoid |16., the other. terminalofthis. solenoid being connected' by a: conductor 269" toa conductor 2.10.1eadingto the. mainterminal 2M), and the. conductor 26B' is also. connectedt'o a con.- ductor 21| towhichone terminal. of'theforward winding. F and or. the. reverse. winding R of the travelling. poise motor. 211. are. connected. The. poise.- motor show-n is. a, split. phase motor with capacitor. C'. The other terminal or. the. forward winding connected by. a conductor 212 tothe contact. 2l48` of. the switch 24U', the other contact 249' of'this switch. being connected by conductors 213 and'. 28W to. one. terminali. of beam switch. 228, theothe'r terminal.` of whichislconnected by conductor 281 toY the' remaining terminal of the reversewinding R of' the' travelling poise motor 2`II". A conductor 214'v branches from the condilctor 21'3`to one terminal of the interlockswitch Z'UU, the other terminalv of" which is connected by a. conductor 215 to the conductor 254' leading fromthe. hopper door Switch member IEUa. A conductor' 216` branches' from the conductor 26| to. one. terminal ofthebeam switch 221, the other terminal-'ofv this switch beingcon'nected by'a conductor 211130' one.terminalloi the interlock switch I`98` the other terminal ofwhich is connected by a conductor 218. t'o one' terminal ofthe' solenoid` 256 of" the discharge' motor control' switch 250, the. other terminal of? this solenoid being conne'cltedv to the. conductor 2.1.03 and the main' terminal. 2'6 0..

The operations of the' diierent" elements of" the machine' having.V been. hereinbefore. described in detail, tlie generali' operation' is as follows: As-

suming that the predetermined weighed quantity' ofllrraterial t'o" beintroduced'4 ini'fo` each bag is' 10'0v lbs., the tare weight 1'55 is suitable to' counter'- bal'a'nce the` weigh hopper' andthe' mechanisms carried' thereby, and a reservoir of material in addition to said predetermined quantity, and the weigh weight' 15'?J is suitable. to counterbalance' said. predeternfiin'e'dI quantity.' Also', assuming' main switch 2518. and? test' switch 262 are closed, feed belt. 6'5 will be operated by' the. feed. motor 10.- in. a. direction.. offe'ed material therefrom into the weigh hopper Bgsuch material entering the compartment 215.' as. well as the rest of.V the hopper.

- During', the feeding ope'ratio'mv the counterweighted. endofthe weigh beam wilLbe down, and the control. circuit. for the feed' motor 1U.' will be from the. terminal 25B., through conductor 261, closed test. switch 262,. c'losedhopper door switch membei: l50`aconductor 2M; closedlbeam switch 23%,

conductor 265; contact.25UA,.solenoid 24B' of feed motor starter switch` 250i and conductor 266 tov conductor- 28.1, reversewinding Rot poise motor.` 2li and'` conductors 21LI'.. and zlllto. terminal 2.6.0: rEhe poise motor. operates, until. the poise. reacheszero, whereupon this motor stallsr but does.- not overheat since. it is.protected.l by. a capacitor or. condenserv C whichbridges its windings.y

When the ieedlbelt has. iedsuilcient-materiah into the weighhopper., the counterweightedendx of the weigh beam 861 rises,A thereby. opening; the; beam switch 230 and (1e-energizing. the. solenoid. Z, and permitting the spring 2.4i to.; openthe: feed motor starter switch 210'.. However,.at the:A moment of cut-off of' the feed, anexcess amount.. of materiali is inthe. act oflfalli'ng,iromthev feed'` belt, and this excess. material' falls.. intdtheweigh hopper and makes a. heavy' weighing,.or a weigh.- ing in4 excess of balance. The. weighbeamcomA sequently swings through` balance and. stays indicating a heavyv weighing, This movementlof the weigh beam'. opens the beam switch 228; thus, breakingv the circuit through. the reverse winding. R of poise motor 21T' and' this windingvv oi this: motor is no longer. energized.v By. this time, as., previously stated', the. beam switch 230 has been` opened by the weigh beam when at' balance', there by breaking the circuit through the solenoid' 2136i of the reed motoristarter switch 24D", allowing theI spring 245'to return'th'e contactor'241 to' bridgingM relation with. the contacts 248.' and' 2492 thereby completing a' circuit for the" forward winding E or the poise motori 2H' to' advance the' poise 202 to' balance' the excess' weight of material'V which' has entered'the'weigh hopper'since balance condition', sai'd' circuit leading1 from terminal 259" through conductors' ZBl, closed test' switch 262;,

conductor .253; closed hopper door' switch memv ber. Hita, conductor' 215,. interlock; switch ZEG:

which is then closed, conductors. 214' and 213, con= tact 249', contacter A1, contact' 2.48"', conductor' 212, forwarding. winding F of' poise' motor 2T and conductor 21B to terminal" 260. The poise' motor operates' to' advance. the poise' 232", while the weigh' weight' 5'51' is lowered and acting on' the weigh' beam` and` the hopper door' is closed",` until the. weighV beam is brought' to, f'ull balancev by the advance' of the travelling poise, whereupon the beam' switch 228 is closed, thereby en'- ergizing the reverse. winding R of the poise motor.' 2li while its forward winding is. also energized'. and thus producing a dynamic braking action on the poise' motor which' stopsit, through a circuit which' leads by' conductors 21.4 andv 28.0,. through the then closed. beam switch 22.8 andi by conductor 28H' to reversewinding'R' andfrom the latter by conductors' 211' and' 210. to terminal 26%.

AWith the scale now. in. full balancewhich willi.

be indicated by' the'. accuracy indicator 232' andi.

assuming that'a baghas been placed'l on the llng' spout 2li while the bag holder is. held' open and' the packer retracted by compressedA air. supplied to the cylinders'38and 5l by' the' pipes'43i and 58. while the' pedal Bo, is. held. depressed by" the operator, the scale is mechanically discharged by releasing said. pedal, thereby' permitting rotation of' the valvemember 52T to connect the compressed air inlet 55. to the pipes e2 and l5t, thus causingA compressed. air. to' bel admitted to. the ends of the cylinders 38.' and.5'l to close thebag holder' on the' bag moutli" surrounding the lling spout, and the packer' to advance to'. a' position beneath the bottom. ofi the. bag suspended from the lling spout;

Closing4 o'f the bag. holder causes. the roller.' I'Sl. carried by the toggle 31T of thev holder' to swing upwardly from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7, and to rock the lever |32 and arm |35 to the dotted line position shown in that figure, thus pulling the cable |31 downwardly and tilting the lever |4| and, through the toggle |45, causing the lever |5 to unlock the hopper door toggles, thus permitting the hopper door |05 tc swing open under the weight of the material in the hopper. All of the weighed material in the hopper is thereby discharged therefrom through the filling spout and into the bag, with the exception of the quantity of ma terial which was previously fed into and remained in the compartment 2| 5. While the packer is advanced and the material is being introduced into the bag, the latter is oscillated about its vertical axis to settle and pack the material in the manner described in my aforesaid patent.

If,v for example, the predetermined weight of material to be placed in each bag is 100 lbs., and the weigh Weight |51 is selected or adjusted to counterbalance 97 lbs., approximately this latter amount will be dumped into the bag by the opening of the hopper door, immediately following which the hopper door will be closed by the counterweight |21 and will be locked in closed position by its toggles.

Tilting of the lever |46 by the pull of the cable |31 operates the switch arm |49 of the hopper door switch I 50 to open the switch member |50a and simultaneously close the switch member |50b connected thereto. Closing of the latter switch member completes a circuit through the solenoid |16 which trips the trigger |12, this circuit leading from terminal 259, conductor 26| closed switch member |5012, conductor 268, through solenoid |16 and through conductors 269 and 210 to terminal 260. Tripping of the trigger |12 permits the spring |66 to lift the weigh weight |51 from the collar |56 and to thereby remove its iniiuence upon the weigh beam, and as the weigh Weight is lifted by the lever |60, the lug |96 which tilts with the latter, allows the switch arm |91 to descend and the interlock switch |98 to close, and it engages the switch arm |99 of interlock switch 200 and causes this switch to open. Opening of the interlock switch 200 opens the operating circuit for the poisemotor 2| l through the beam switch 230 which opens when the counterweight end of the weigh beam rises in consequence of the lifting of the weigh weight from the weigh beam, since the compartment 2|5 in the weigh hopper still contains a sufficient weight of material to overbalance the travelling poise 202.

Closing of the interlock switch |98 and the beam switch 221 initiates operation of the discharge motor 222 and the auger 2|9 driven by it, causing material to be discharged from the compartment 2|5 through the opening 2| 8 in the hopper door and into the bag on the filling spout, the controlling circuit for the discharge motor being from the terminal 259 through conductor 26|, conductor 216, beam switch 221 which is then closed, conductor 211, interlock switch |98 which is then closed, conductor 218, solenoid 256 of discharge motor starter switch 250 and then to terminal 260. Energizing of solenoid 256 operates the switch bar 254 to engage the contractors 25|, 252 and 253 thereon with the pairs of contacts connected to the lines L1, L2 and L3 and to the terminals of discharge motor 222, causing this motor to operate the auger to discharge material from the compartment 2|5 until the weigh beam comes to balance, therebyopening the beam switch 221 and stopping the discharge motor.

If, for example, approximately lbs. of mao terial was dumped by the opening of the hoppery door, approximately 5 lbs. of material to make up the predetermined desired lbs. must be: taken from compartment 2|5 to make up a 100 lbs. in the bag, and this 5 lbs. plus the excess; residual amount was balanced by the advance; of the travelling poise, consequently, the dis-y charge motor will operate the auger to discharge; the material until the Weigh beam comes to balance, at which time the desired weighment of 100 lbs. will have been discharged, the residual. material in the hopper remaining therein toy make up part of the next weighment. Accumu-` lation of excess material in the weigh hopper is thus offset. The compartment 2|5 is always lled to overflowing during the feeding so that immediately after the discharge, by opening the hopper door |00, there is always a full compartment 2|5 which contains approximately 15 lbs. or at least more than would ever be required to be added to the initial discharge from hopper door |00 to make up 100 lbs.

During normal operation, the test switch 262 is closed, and upon completion of each discharge, the beam swings through balance and closes beam switch 230, thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid 246 of feed motor starting switch 240 and thereby commencing another cycle of the operations hereinbefore described, the cycles being performed and repeated automatically.

However, if it is desired to occasionally test the machine for empty balance, the test switch 262 may be opened manually, and a balance may be noted after stopping of the discharge auger. Although beam switch 230 may close during such a test, the feed motor cannot start, due to the open test switch.

While the feed motor 10 is operating the feed belt to feed material into the weigh unit, the discharge motor 222 cannot operate since the interlock switch |98 in the control circuit of the discharge motor is then open; and while the discharge motor is operating to discharge material from the weigh unit, the feed motor cannot operate since contact 250A is open.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that approximately the desired weight of material may be fed to the weigh hopper or other Weigh unit without compensating for the weight of the column of material falling from the feeding means at the moment of cut-off, which is controlled by the weigh weight while exerting its counterbalancing influence on the weigh unit, that excess of material acting on the weigh unit, representing the material falling from the feeding means at cut-off, is balanced by the travelling poise which brings the beam or scale system to balance, after which approximately the desired weight of material is discharged from the weigh unit, whereupon the discharging means operates to discharge material from the weigh unit until the beam or scale system again comes to balance under the influence of the travelling poise, the Weight of material thus discharged under control of the auger and its motor, added to the amount previously discharged making up the total of the predetermined desired weight of material discharged during each Weighing operation. Y

The improved weighing apparatus is thus egsae, sie

fro'nr' tlrie'V Weighunit regardless of' the amount of material which may remain after; the predetermined' weghtfef materiali been Weigi'ied` dus; I'itwilif beobvibus however; that the' inf vention' is also applicable to'l the weighing of liquids.

claim:2

Weighing apparatus comprising a weigh: unit, a weigh-ing system supporting' the weigh uni-t and'i ver'nbodying Weighing means te act thereon theweig'h'- unit, means coritrelieclby the operator for" discharging approximately saidl predeter lrineclE Weight` of material Afi'orn the' Weigh unit wiiilfe the Weigifngsyst'en'r is balan'ee d by Vsaid- Weighing means'y a'rid excess Weight balancing means, means ecntwiler` by' thev weighing sysr temv for removing' therefrom the influence oli' said' weighing means- While said system remainsunder the influence off saidL excess Weightv bal'- ancing means, andl means controlledi by thev Weighingl system whileI under the influence of' said excess Weight balancing means for dis-` charging material from the weigh unit untl the weighing systeml balances.

PHILIP B-. RICHARDSON.

VBEFEREISICESy (CITED The following references are of recordin the le' of this patentz' UNITEDr STATES PATENTS Number Name DateA 585,986 Richards Jul'y 6E 1897' 607,462 Richards July 19, 1898 607,465'- Richards Julfy T92 1898 638-,673 Richards Dee. 5;-11'899 8163694'. Arnett Jan. 233i, 1906 139783558 VanI Der Horst Oct- 3U, 11934l 2',Q1]l,6082 Belknap Aug. 20'-, 1935z 23061743 Weckerly Jan. 12,193?

2,332,438 Clfiord- @cti 1`9, 1594354 2,336,34'75 Clifford Dec. 77, -94-3` 2,348,372 Weckerly May 119'4'4 2,357,766? Richardson Sept.` 5, 1944 2,373,831 Howard Apr. I7, E945 2,434,177 Richardson Jan. 6; i948- 

